Galatians 4

1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.

1 然而，继承人还年幼时，虽然身为产业的主人，实际上和奴仆没有分别。

2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.

2 他一样要受监护人和管家的约束，一直到他父亲指定他继承产业的日子为止。

3 So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.

3 我们也一样，在孩童时期受世界基本规条的辖制。

4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

4 然而，时候一到，上帝就差遣自己的儿子借着一位女子降生，并受律法的约束，

5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

5 为要救赎一切受律法约束的人，使我们成为祂的儿女。

6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

6 我们 既然成为儿女，上帝就差遣祂儿子的灵进入我们的心里，呼求：“阿爸，父啊！”

7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.

7 由此可见，你们从今以后不再是奴仆，而是儿女。既然身为儿女，就可以靠着上帝成为产业继承人。

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

8 从前，你们不认识上帝，做那些假神的奴隶。

9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

9 现在，你们既然认识了上帝，或者更应该说是上帝认识了你们，为什么还要回到那些脆弱无用的基本规条之下，甘愿再做它们的奴隶呢？

10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

10 你们竟然还在拘守什么日子、月份、节期和年份！

11 I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.

11 我真担心我在你们身上的一番心血都枉费了。

12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

12 弟兄姊妹，我劝你们现在要像我一样，因为我已经像你们一样。你们向来没有亏待过我。

13 You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

13 你们知道，当初是因为我生病才有机会首次向你们传福音。

14 And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.

14 那时，你们虽然因为我生病而受累，却没有轻视我、嫌弃我，反而接待我，就像接待上帝的天使，接待基督耶稣一样。

15 What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

15 我可以为你们作证，如果可能的话，你们那时就是把眼睛剜出来给我，也心甘情愿。你们当初的善意哪里去了？

16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

16 现在我因为告诉你们真理，就成了你们的仇人吗？

17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.

17 那些人非常热心地对待你们，其实他们心怀不轨，想要离间你们和我们的关系，使你们热心地对待他们。

18 Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.

18 有人热心待你们当然很好，但总要动机纯正、始终如一，不应该只是我和你们在一起时才热心待你们。

19 My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

19 孩子们，为了你们，我像一位母亲再次经历生产的剧痛，一直到基督的生命在你们里面成形。

20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

20 我恨不得立刻赶到你们身边，换种口气说话，因为我为你们困惑不安。

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?

21 你们这些甘愿在律法之下的人啊！告诉我，你们没听过律法怎么说吗？

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

22 律法书上说：亚伯拉罕有两个儿子，一个是婢女生的，一个是主母生的。

23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

23 婢女的儿子是按着人的意愿生的，主母的儿子是按着上帝的应许生的。

24 These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.

24 这些事都有寓意，两个妇人代表两个约。夏甲代表颁布于西奈山的约，她生的孩子是奴仆。

25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

25 这夏甲代表阿拉伯的西奈山，相当于现今的耶路撒冷，她和她的儿女都是奴仆。

26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

26 那天上的耶路撒冷则是自由的，是我们的母亲。

27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”

27 因为圣经上说： “不生育、未生养的妇人啊， 要快乐； 未曾生产的女子啊， 要高声欢呼， 因为没有丈夫的比有丈夫的儿女更多。”

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

28 弟兄姊妹，你们都像以撒一样是照着上帝的应许出生的。

29 At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.

29 当时，那按着人的意愿生的儿子迫害那靠着圣灵生的儿子，现在的情况也和当时一样。

30 But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

30 但圣经上怎么说呢？圣经上说：“赶走婢女和她的儿子，因为婢女的儿子不能与主母的儿子一同承受产业。”

31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

31 弟兄姊妹，这样看来，我们不是婢女的儿女，而是主母的儿女。